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A Short but Important Week This blog is going to be a little shorter than usual, but honestly, it might be one of the most important ones I’ve written. I just took four full days off from my business to celebrate my best friend at her bachelorette trip. And what’s crazy? My business was fine. The Moment You Realize It’s Working Now, let’s be real. My inbox is full. I have a lot to catch up on. There are emails, messages, and to-dos waiting for me. But here’s the difference this time. I am not stressed. I am not overwhelmed. I am not panicking. That right there is growth. In past seasons, coming back to a full inbox would have sent me straight into chaos mode. I would have felt behind before I even started. But this time, I know I can handle it. I trust my team. I trust my systems. And I trust myself. The Power of Stepping Away Taking those four days off did more than just give me a break. It gave me clarity. It gave me space to breathe. It gave me proof that everything does not depend on me being available 24/7. That is a huge shift. We work so hard to build businesses that can run, grow, and serve clients at a high level. But if you never step away, you never actually see if what you built works. This week, I saw that it does. Walking Into the Week Differently I am walking into this week with a completely different mindset. Clear head. Focused energy. No chaos. Yes, there is work to do. A lot of it. But instead of stressing about it, I am just putting my head down, getting through my meetings, and knocking out my to-do list one thing at a time. That is it. No overthinking. No spiraling. Just execution. The Lesson If you are afraid to step away from your business, this is your reminder. You need to. Not just for rest, but to prove to yourself that what you are building can stand without you for a moment. Because the goal is not to be needed every second. The goal is to build something that works even when you are not there. Looking Ahead This week is about momentum. Catching up. Closing loops. Moving forward with intention. And doing it all without the stress that used to come with it. Because now I know. I can step away. And everything will still be right where I left it.

A Full Week in Every Direction This week was filled with a little bit of everything. New clients, consults, workouts, protecting my time, and having my mom in town to help with Jett. Some days it feels like everything is flowing perfectly. Other days it reminds me just how hard it can be to balance being a mom while building a growing company. This week was one of those weeks where I realized something important. I need help, and I need to ask for it more often. Having my mom here made a huge difference. Being able to focus on meetings, projects, and client work while knowing Jett was taken care of helped me stay present in what I was doing instead of constantly feeling pulled in ten different directions. Big Progress Inside the Business Business has been moving fast lately in the best way. We have been onboarding new clients, running consults, and knocking out major client projects. I am incredibly proud of how well our team has been working together. Everyone is stepping up, communicating, and handling responsibilities exactly how they should. That is the kind of progress that does not happen overnight. It takes time to build the right systems and the right team culture. But when it starts clicking, it is a really good feeling. This week reminded me that the more I lean on my team, the stronger the company becomes. Jett Is Officially a Food Critic In Jett news, he has been trying more real food this week. So far his favorites include charro beans, quesadillas, and watermelon. Eggs were… acceptable. Not his favorite, but he tolerated them. Watching him explore food and react to new flavors is one of the most fun stages so far. Every new bite feels like a little milestone. The First Time Away From Jett This upcoming week is going to be a big one emotionally. I am taking Thursday through Sunday off to celebrate my best friend at her bachelorette party. It should be an amazing weekend, but there is one part that is really hard for me. This will be the first time I have ever been away from Jett. Ever. To say I am nervous would be an understatement. He is my everything, and the thought of being away from him already brings a lot of anxiety. At the same time, I know this time will be important. My best friend deserves to be celebrated, and we rarely get the chance to spend real time together anymore. I know once I get there, I will appreciate the time with her. But getting in the car is going to be tough. Letting Go of the Business for a Few Days The other part of stepping away is trusting that the business will continue moving without me. We are onboarding a new client this week, and normally I would want to be involved in every step of that process. Instead, I have to lean on my team and trust that they can handle it. And the truth is, they can. We have built a strong group of people who care about the work and care about our clients. That is exactly why teams exist in the first place. This week will be another reminder that I do not have to do everything myself. The Fun Part of Building the House In house news, we have officially reached one of the most exciting phases of the project. We are starting to pick out the finishing pieces. Flooring, tile, baseboards, fixtures, and all the details that actually start making the house feel real. After months of drywall, sanding, priming, and construction work, getting to make design choices is a welcome change. It is the part where you can finally start to picture what the finished home will look like. There is still plenty of work ahead, but this stage definitely feels more fun. Looking Ahead This next week will be busy, emotional, and exciting all at the same time. I will be leaning on my team at work. Leaning on my family to help with Jett. And leaning into celebrating someone who means a lot to me. Growth in life and business often requires learning how to let go just a little. Trusting the people around you. Accepting help. And remembering that even when things feel overwhelming, you are surrounded by people who want to support you.

Finally Taking a Day Off After 26 days straight with no days off, I finally took one on Friday. For weeks I kept telling myself I did not have time. There were tasks to finish, clients to support, projects moving forward. I knew my team had things handled, and I knew in my head that everything would be fine, but it was still hard to step away. But I did it. And now I am so glad I did. My head feels clearer. I feel more focused. I feel like I know exactly what needs to happen next. And interestingly enough, I do not feel behind at all. I spent all that time worrying about what would happen if I took a day off, and the reality was that everything kept moving just fine. Sometimes the break you resist the most is the one you need the most. The Reality of Building Your Own Home I wanted to talk about something this week that people often romanticize. Building your own home while running a business. On paper, it sounds amazing. You are saving money. You are creating something from the ground up. You are spending time with family. You are building a home exactly how you want it. All of those things are true. But what people do not talk about enough is how much work it actually is. It is physically exhausting. It requires constant coordination. Materials have to be ordered on time. Work has to be done in the right sequence. You have to keep the momentum going or the entire project slows down. Right now we are about two months away from our planned move in date, and there is still so much to do. This weekend we started priming. We are slowly working through punch list items and finishing different spaces. We are making progress every single weekend, but the list of what still needs to happen is long. And as we get closer, we are starting to face the reality that some things will have to wait. Accepting an “Incomplete” Move In One of the biggest lessons of building a home while running a business is learning where to compromise. We are already making a list of items that may have to be finished after we move in. That does not mean the house will not be livable. It just means it will not be perfect. And that is okay. Time is not infinite. Between running a growing company, raising a baby, and physically building a house on the weekends, there are limits to what we can accomplish in a set timeline. The goal is to move into a finished home eventually. It just may not all happen on day one. Sometimes progress matters more than perfection. Preparing to Step Away From the Business On top of everything happening right now, I am also preparing for a conference at the beginning of April. The conference itself is only three days, but the trip will actually be about ten days total. We are going a day early, staying a day after, and then heading on a post conference cruise. It is going to be an incredible experience. I will learn a lot, connect with people, and grow in ways that will benefit the business long term. But it also means stepping away from work for a significant amount of time. And if you know me, you know that is not something I do lightly. Delegation in Real Time Because we will not have internet access on the cruise, I have been preparing now. Delegating tasks. Organizing responsibilities. Making sure the right people own the right projects. This is one of the reasons I am so thankful for the team we have built. We recently made another hire, and she is already doing an incredible job. With the team we have now, I truly believe the business can continue moving smoothly while I step away for a few days. That is the goal of building a real company. Not a business that collapses when the owner takes a break. But a business that continues to serve clients because the team, systems, and structure are strong. Gratitude in the Middle of the Chaos Right now life feels busy. We are scaling a company. We are building a house. We are raising a baby. We are preparing for travel. But underneath all of that, there is a deep sense of gratitude. Life is good. Business is growing. Our team is expanding. And even with all the chaos, we are incredibly blessed. I cannot say thank you enough to God for the opportunities we have been given. Sometimes when everything is moving fast, it is important to stop and recognize just how far you have come. Looking Ahead The next two months will be intense as we push toward finishing the house. There will be long weekends, lots of projects, and probably plenty of adjustments along the way. But we are getting closer every single week. And now that I have proven to myself that the world does not fall apart when I take a day off, I plan to remember that lesson moving forward. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is step away long enough to come back with a clear mind.

21 Days Without a Day Off As I write this, we are 21 days in without a full day off. Some days I think, this is sustainable. I feel energized. I feel driven. I feel like I could keep this pace forever. Other days, I just want a break. The good news is I am not pulling 12 hour days every single day. I have been trying to slow down where I can and give myself grace. That is new for me. I am not great at grace. But I am learning. The Mental Game No One Talks About Entrepreneurship is a mental game. That is it. That is the whole thing. This week especially, I have realized how much of this journey is about managing your own mind. When you are scaling and growing, it is so easy to live in constant rush mode. Chaos becomes normal. Speed becomes expected. With HOTWORX, I have discovered yoga and some of their slower workouts that include meditation. I did not expect to love that part. But I do. It forces my brain to slow down. It forces me to breathe. It forces me to stop thinking about clients, hiring, money, growth, and everything else. When I do not work out, I can tell immediately. My brain goes wild. I overthink. I spiral. I feel behind even when I am not. Right now, I am about to go three days without working out, and I am already mentally preparing for that internal battle. Because I know what happens when I do not create space to turn my brain off. So here is my advice to entrepreneurs this week. If you are fighting mental battles, find something that shuts your brain down. For me, it is working out. Years ago, it was running. Running used to clear my head completely. Right now, HOTWORX is that place. It is where I feel most like myself. It is where I find peace. You need something like that. Because this business thing will eat your mind alive if you let it. We Made Another Hire In business news, we made another hire. We hit the number of new clients we said would trigger that hire, and we followed through. I am so proud of that. We set the standard. We hit the standard. We executed. I am so excited to have her join the team. You will start seeing more team introductions on social media. I realized something this week. I talk about my team all the time, but I have never actually introduced them publicly. Everyone has been behind the scenes. That is how I have always operated. That changes now. As we grow, I want people to see who is serving them. I want my team to feel recognized. Letting Go of Being “The Standard” This next part is hard. I have always been the standard. Clients are used to me. They are used to my communication style, my speed, my tone, my expectations. Training someone in virtual assistance or executive assistance at this level is not easy. It is detailed. It is structured. It requires critical thinking. We have even discussed bringing in a professional trainer at some point. It is just a thought right now. Because if I am honest, I am still attached. This company is my baby. I set the standard. I am the standard. And it is hard to let that shift. But if I want to scale, I have to let it shift. Jett Updates and Mom Mode We had Jett’s appointment last week. He is average and on track in every way. Except for his head. His head is in the 97th percentile. Which is insane. He has days where he is the most chill baby ever. He lets me work 10 to 12 hours and just hangs out. And then there are days where he is needy and only wants mom. On those days, I work closer to eight hours. And honestly, that is probably what I should be doing more often anyway. He will always come first. The Million Dollar Goal I am very open about this. I want to hit one million dollars in revenue in three years. That goal requires growth. It requires hiring. It requires systems. It requires pushing hard. March is here, and we are walking into next week with three consults. One is a current client expanding. Two are new clients. And I am confident they will convert. The difference now is I am not scared of more work. I am excited. Because I have a team. Because we are building capacity. Because I am no longer carrying it alone. When I started this in 2017, I never imagined it becoming what it is now. Watching it grow into a real, functioning company is surreal. Dominican Republic and a Travel Lesson Learned In personal news, we are going to an international wedding in the Dominican Republic at the end of May. We bought flights this week. Yikes. I waited too long thinking prices would drop. They did not. Apparently, everyone is flying the exact same days we are. Limited seats meant we had to buy upgraded seats just to get on the flights we needed into the airport we needed. It is the most expensive flight I have ever purchased. More expensive than Europe. And yes, I am a travel agent. No, I do not always give my own trips the same level of strategy I give my clients. Lesson learned. Thank God for credit cards and payment options because it was a large, unexpected expense. But it is booked. It is paid for. And we are going to have the best time at an all inclusive resort with Jett, my husband, and family. Sometimes you just have to breathe and move forward. Looking Ahead We are busy. We are growing. We are hiring. We are pushing. But I am also learning to slow my brain down. The mental game matters just as much as the revenue. If you are in a season of growth, protect your peace. Find your outlet. And remember, you cannot scale your business if your mind is constantly in chaos. This next quarter is going to be big. I can feel it. And I am ready for it.

A Different Kind of Busy Normally when I write about my week, it is chaotic, overloaded, and insanely busy. This week was still busy, but something shifted. I set boundaries. And I am really proud of myself for that. Most of my clients, family, and close friends know this about me. I work a lot. I tend to say yes. I tend to fill the calendar. I rarely block off time just because I need it. But this week, I was inspired by one of my clients. He intentionally blocks off time for workouts, family, and personal commitments. It is non negotiable on his calendar. Watching him operate that way made me realize something. If I did that too, I might actually become a better business owner. The Decision to Start Working Out Again The first boundary I implemented was working out. I have not consistently worked out since August of 2024. That was right before our two week vacation. Then fall hit and business exploded. I was working nonstop. Then I got pregnant. During pregnancy, I avoided working out because I was scared. I did not want to push too hard or hurt the baby. I had not been in a consistent rhythm before, and everything I read basically said do not start something intense if your body is not used to it. So I stopped. After Jett was born, I thought I would jump back into it after six weeks. That did not happen. Between high blood pressure issues, swelling, and recovering from a C section, I underestimated how long healing truly takes. Now, six months postpartum, I finally feel like my body has caught up. My scar feels healed. My blood pressure is normal. The swelling is down. I do not feel fragile anymore. And then it happened. On Wednesday, I saw a picture of myself that I was not happy with. It was not about vanity. It was about how I felt looking at it. I did not feel strong. I did not feel confident. I did not feel like myself. That same day, I signed up for HOTWORX. The Immediate Shift I did not wait. I did not overthink it. I signed up and went. And I am obsessed. I love it. I am excited to get dressed and go. I am eager to try the different sessions. I feel proud of myself for showing up. Maybe the changes I am seeing are small. Maybe some of it is in my head. But I feel different already. My head feels clearer. My energy feels better. I feel stronger. I feel more confident. It is wild how quickly your mindset shifts when you simply start moving your body again. Why This Matters for Business Owners This blog is not about working out. It is about boundaries. As business owners, we glorify 12 hour days. We sit at our desks. We grind. We tell ourselves we will rest later. But if your body is declining because you refuse to prioritize your health, you are hurting yourself long term. If you feel sluggish, tired, uncomfortable in your own skin, it impacts everything. Your confidence. Your sales conversations. Your leadership. Your creativity. When you look good, you feel good. When you feel strong, you think stronger. When your mind is clear, your business benefits. Right now, I feel more motivated to go close sales and lead my team because I feel better in my own body. That matters more than we admit. Health Is a Business Asset Your health is not separate from your business. It is one of your biggest assets. If you are not mentally sharp or physically capable, the business will feel heavier than it needs to. This week taught me that setting boundaries does not mean doing less. It means doing the right things. Blocking off time to work out did not hurt my business. It helped it. I was more focused during meetings. I was more decisive. I had more energy at the end of the day. That is not coincidence. Looking Ahead I am committed to keeping this boundary. Workouts are on the calendar. They are not optional. If you are reading this and you have been putting your health on the back burner, let this be your sign. It does not have to be HOTWORX. It does not have to be intense. But it has to be something. Protect your body. Protect your mind. Because if you are building something big, you need the stamina to sustain it. And this year, I am choosing to build a business that thrives without sacrificing myself in the process.

A Week of Just Surviving This entire week, I was sick. Not a light little cold. The full congestion, coughing fits, exhaustion kind of sick. I did not start feeling like myself again until Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, the congestion was finally easing up. The coughing slowed down. I could breathe without feeling like my chest was on fire. As I write this Sunday, I still have a lingering cough, especially at night, but I finally feel like I am turning a corner. By Monday, I think I will be back to normal and I am honestly so ready for a productive week. I would not wish whatever this was on anyone. It was brutal. I am incredibly thankful that my husband and Jett have strong immune systems. My husband was down for about 48 hours and now just has a small lingering cough. Jett only had a fever and cold symptoms for about 24 hours. Now he has a little cough, and I cannot tell if he is actually coughing or just mimicking me because I have been coughing so much. We have been a sick household. We have been surviving. The Truth About Rest Despite being sick, I did not really rest. I had peers tell me to take a day off. I had people remind me that my health matters. And they are not wrong. But in this season, I genuinely did not feel like I had the time or the capacity to completely stop. I was onboarding two new clients. I had ongoing client work that could not just sit. I had meetings scheduled that I chose not to move because I know myself. I know I am strong. I know I can push through when I need to. So I worked through the sickness. Normal hours. Back to back meetings. Projects moving forward. Was that the smartest choice? Maybe not. But it was the choice I made. Sometimes entrepreneurship looks like balance and perfect boundaries. Other times it looks like powering through because the mission is bigger than the moment. Fear in Business Is Normal This week is another full one. Monday is packed from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Tuesday is just as heavy. On top of that, one of my part timers is out Monday, so I will be filling in the gaps where needed. And yes, I am nervous. It is okay to say that out loud. It is okay to admit when you are stretched thin. It is okay to have fear in business. The bigger question is what you do with that fear. For me, this week forced me to confront something I have been putting off. Capacity. I am at it. We are growing fast. Projects are stacking up. Meetings are filling every available block. So I made the move. I sent emails to previous interviewees. I asked follow up questions. I started the process of hiring again. My goal is to bring someone on by the end of the month at the latest. This is the part of business where you either let fear paralyze you or you let it push you forward. Hiring before you feel fully ready is scary. But waiting until you are drowning is worse. Meetings, Momentum, and Faith Despite being sick, I did not move my meetings. I showed up. I handled what needed to be handled. And we had a ton of momentum this week. Sometimes I think we underestimate how resilient we actually are. I know that I can handle what God throws my way. That does not mean I will not feel tired or overwhelmed. It just means I trust that I can move through it. This week will be busy again. But I am excited for it. House Progress and Big Milestones On top of everything in business, we are gearing up for another house building weekend. My dad and I plan to go out there and texture the entire house. That is a huge milestone. Once texture is done, the next step is priming and painting. And once those two are complete, it starts feeling real. Walls that are no longer raw drywall. Spaces that actually look like rooms. Every step gets us closer to our May move in date. I am so excited I can barely stand it. We still have work to do, but we are inching closer every single weekend. The Lesson This Week If there is one takeaway from this week, it is this. It is okay to have fear. It is okay to be stretched. It is okay to admit that you are nervous about capacity. Do not let fear consume you. Let it inform you. If you are scared because you are overwhelmed, that might be your sign to hire. If you are scared because you are growing, that might be your sign that you are leveling up. If you are scared because you are stepping into something new, that probably means you are exactly where you need to be. I am choosing not to let fear win. I am choosing growth. I am choosing momentum. And I am choosing to believe that this busy season is preparing us for something even bigger. Here is to a healthier week, a productive Monday, and one step closer to hiring, finishing our house, and continuing to grow something truly special.

A Break From the Blog and a Birthday on the Road Last week, I intentionally skipped writing this blog. Part of that was because it was my birthday, and part of it was because we were on vacation at Disney and Universal. I fully expected to come back refreshed, inspired, and ready to jump right back in. That is not exactly how it went. I woke up Sunday morning, on my birthday, with a sore throat. I brushed it off and blamed the cold front that had rolled in. Turns out, that was the beginning of a full week of being sick. I am writing this blog still sick, one full week later, and now our entire household has joined the party. My husband was sick shortly after me, and now Jett has a runny nose and a little cough. Disney and Universal were still incredible. Truly so fun. But being sick for half of the trip definitely changed the experience. I had this idea that I would wake up early or work a bit at night, maybe knock out some emails or plan ahead. That did not happen at all. Being sick completely derailed those plans, and instead my only job became getting through the days and keeping everyone else healthy. Letting the Business Run Without Me One of the biggest takeaways from this trip was realizing how much work can get done without me micromanaging every detail. While I was gone, my team stepped up in a big way. Things kept moving. Clients were supported. Questions were asked and handled. I came back to a very full inbox and plenty of follow ups, but I also came back to proof that the systems we have built actually work. I hate micromanaging, and this week reminded me why delegation matters so much. That said, I do have a lot of catching up to do. If you are a current or potential client and you have noticed I have been slower to respond, this is why. I am working through emails and messages in the order they came in, with current clients receiving priority responses. I personally manage the main inbox, and I am chipping away at it steadily. When I get to your email, I will respond. I promise. Catching Up Without the Stress Coming back from vacation to a full inbox while being sick could easily send me into stress mode. Old me would have panicked, stared at the task list, and tried to power through everything at once. This time, I am choosing a different approach. I am not stressing about how full my inbox is. I am not stressing about the long to do list. I know I have the rest of this week and the weekend to catch up, and everything that truly matters will get handled. Right now, my priorities are simple. Take care of Jett. Take care of myself. Then take care of the business. Jett being sick is hard. When your child is not feeling good, nothing else really matters the same way. He is my first priority, always. Making sure he is comfortable and taken care of comes before emails, projects, or timelines. And that is okay. A Reminder I Needed This week has been a reminder to slow down and listen to your body. Being sick does not mean you failed. Taking a vacation does not mean you are behind. Playing catch up does not mean you are doing something wrong. Life happens. Kids get sick. You get sick. Plans change. And the business does not fall apart because of it, especially when you have built the right support and systems. I am focusing on what I can control, delegating what I should not be holding onto, and giving myself grace in this season. Looking Ahead This week is about recovery, steady progress, and easing back into the rhythm. Emails will get answered. Projects will move forward. Meetings will happen. But I am not rushing it. If there is one message I want this blog to leave you with, it is this. It is okay to pause. It is okay to be sick. It is okay to come back slowly. And it is absolutely okay to prioritize your health and your family without guilt. The work will be there. And you will be better for taking care of yourself first.

A Week Where Meetings Took Over Everything This past week was busy on a whole different level. I am used to heavy meeting days on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Mondays and Wednesdays being a mix of meetings and blocked work time. This week threw that structure out the window completely. I was booked with meetings all day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Morning to evening. On several nights, I was still working until around 8-10 PM, depending on my energy level and how much follow up work came out of those meetings. It was great in the sense that business is thriving and clients are moving fast. But it also meant there was almost no time for deep, focused work during the week. Every day felt reactive instead of proactive, which can be mentally exhausting when it stacks up. The Friday That Was Not a Catch Up Day Going into Friday, I thought, perfect, this will be my catch up day. I had planned to finally knock out some focused work and get ahead before leaving town. That plan did not last long. Friday turned into a full day of logistics. I had to wake up early, get everything packed, get Jett packed, drive to appointments, and take care of last minute errands. On top of that, we dropped the cats off at my parents’ house so they could be taken care of while we are gone. By the time I got back into town around 4 PM, it was clear that Friday was not going to be a productive workday. It was just one of those full life days, and I had to accept that. How I Planned a 14 Hour Workday Without Losing My Mind Friday night, instead of stressing about everything I did not get done, I sat down and made a plan. This is one of the biggest pieces of advice I give clients when they are heading into a heavy workload. I took every single client task and project and estimated how long it would realistically take. One hour, thirty minutes, five minutes, and so on. I rounded everything up, added buffer time, and then totaled the hours. The number landed at 14 hours. Instead of panicking, I worked backward. I set my cutoff time at 7 PM and figured out exactly when I needed to start working to make that happen. Saturday became a long but intentional workday. It was busy. It was focused. I did get sidetracked for a bit while deep diving into a finance issue involving a $3.57 discrepancy that turned into a much bigger system question. We still have not fully resolved it, but even with that detour, the day felt incredibly productive. There is something powerful about knowing exactly what you are walking into and choosing the structure instead of letting the chaos decide for you. Busy Does Not Scare Me Anymore As I write this, I have another full day planned with about seven and a half hours of work. My goal is to start early, stay focused, and end the day earlier than Saturday. With back to back meetings Monday through Thursday, the number of projects and to dos coming from clients is intense. ABJ is insanely busy right now, and honestly, I have never felt more blessed. This is the first time I can truly say I am not stressing about cash flow at all. There is so much work, everyone on the team is busy, and clients are trusting us with more than ever. That feeling is hard to explain unless you have built something from the ground up. Busy used to scare me. Now it feels like confirmation. Preparing to Step Away the Right Way We are only a few days away from leaving for Disney, and I am so excited. Not just for the trip, but for the quality time with Jett and the opportunity to capture content for my travel business. I want to learn everything about navigating Disney with a family, baby care centers, transportation, stroller logistics, and what actually matters when you are traveling with kids. That knowledge directly helps my clients, and I cannot wait to share it. Part of why this past week has been so heavy is because I am trying to leave with a clean slate. I do not want to be working while I am gone. That means prepping ahead, closing loops, and making sure nothing urgent is left hanging. It is a lot of upfront work, but it is worth it for true time off. Looking Ahead This season is fast, full, and demanding, but it is also incredibly rewarding. The meetings, the workload, the long days, they all point to growth. If there is one takeaway from this week, it is this. When your calendar explodes, do not guess your way through it. Plan it. Break it down. Give every task a home. Busy does not have to mean chaotic. With the right structure, it can be energizing.

Focused Work and Finding the Right Balance This past week, I was out of town to get some truly focused work done and to have extra help with Jett. Being away from my husband always sucks, but it is one of those seasons where the tradeoff makes sense. I get uninterrupted work time and support with the baby, and he gets solid, distraction free days to work on the house. It is not ideal, but it is intentional. And right now, intentional matters more than perfect. Annual Business Retreat in Fredericksburg After a full work week, we headed to Fredericksburg on Friday for our annual business retreat and planning session for 2026. This trip has become one of my favorite traditions, and this year did not disappoint. The business review was eye opening. We talked through everything. What is working, what is not, and where friction is showing up as we grow. We addressed our issues head on, knowing full well that new ones will pop up as they always do. But for now, we solved what needed solving. The best part was dreaming together about what this business can become. I have zero desire to coast. Contentment is great, but stagnation is not for me. I want this business to grow beyond anything I could have imagined when I started. I want to help more businesses, create more jobs, and eventually be in a position to fund and support small businesses in meaningful ways. Helping small businesses grow has always been my passion. The more successful ABJ becomes, the more impact I can make. A Growing Team and Clearer Structure One of the biggest takeaways from our annual planning was how much our team has grown. During our last annual, we had three people. Now, we have ten. That alone is wild to say out loud. We made major updates to our accountability chart to better reflect where we are today and where we are heading. Clear roles matter more as the team grows. Everyone needs to know what they own, what they are responsible for, and how they contribute to the bigger picture. Seeing the team operate at this level is incredibly rewarding. We are building something real, and it shows. Jett Adventures and Learning on the Fly In Jett news, we had a parenting moment that definitely falls under the category of “you do what you have to do.” We forgot his bottle when we went out to dinner on Friday night. To hold him over until we could get back to the Vrbo, we skipped a few steps and let him try sweet potato mash and grits. It worked. He was satisfied, probably a little shocked, but very happy. He clearly loved the sweet potatoes. Parenting continues to be a mix of preparation and improvisation, and we are getting better at rolling with it. Stepping Fully Into the Owner Role This upcoming week is heavy with meetings, but I am excited about it. One of my biggest goals for 2026 is to step fully into my role as the owner of my company. Not the do everything person. Not the fixer. The owner. I actually sat down and wrote out my responsibilities. What I should be focused on. What I should not be doing. And when I feel off track, I can look at that list and realign myself quickly. Growth requires discipline. Not just in work, but in staying in the right lane. Looking Ahead This year feels different in the best way. Clearer vision. Stronger team. Bigger goals. There will be challenges, growing pains, and moments of doubt. But there is also momentum, purpose, and a deep belief in what we are building. 2026 is going to be a great year.

Last week was busy in the way only early January can be. Monday was fully booked, and by Tuesday I was in meetings from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday followed the same pattern, and by the end of the week, my brain was full in the best and most exhausting way. It was one of those weeks where clients were ready to move. Projects kicked off quickly, decisions were made fast, and momentum was high. I am incredibly grateful for weeks like that, even when they are intense. The exciting part was not just the number of new projects, but how many projects we also completed. As a team, we took everything that came in, listed it out, prioritized it, and executed. By the end of the week, we had wrapped up what we could and started this new week with a mostly blank slate again. That feeling never gets old. Why Earlier Team Check Ins Matter One thing that stood out to me last week was how much smoother things moved when I checked in with my team earlier in the week. Our team meetings are usually on Thursdays, but because projects were being assigned Monday through Wednesday, touching base sooner helped us gain traction faster. Sometimes leadership is not about adding more meetings. It is about adjusting timing so people can move with clarity instead of reacting at the last minute. That small shift made a noticeable difference, and it is something I plan to continue refining. Rediscovering Service Through Rotary In the middle of the business chaos, I also attended a Rotary Business Networking Lunch. They recently launched this new lunch for business owners, and it was such a great experience. It reminded me how much I enjoy being involved in service. I have always been drawn to service based organizations. I was involved with the Call Station Evening Lions Club until it dissolved over the past year, and I have been quietly looking for a new way to plug back in. Rotary feels like a natural fit. I have a long history with the organization, even dating back to high school, and being in a room full of business owners who care about giving back really energized me. I am officially planning to join, and I am excited to connect with a different group of leaders who value both business and service. Why Fridays Are Non Negotiable By the time Thursday ended with a twelve hour workday, I was more than ready for Friday. Fridays are my dedicated days off, and I protect them fiercely. That does not mean I sit around doing nothing. Fridays are for spending intentional time with my husband and Jett, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and resetting for the week ahead. If I skip that day, one of two things happens. Either the house becomes overwhelming, or I feel like I missed time with my family because the weekend fills up fast. That Friday reset is the only reason I can handle weeks like last week without burning out. House Progress and Trusting the Process Saturday was another house building weekend with my dad. We thought we would be texturing, but instead spent the day fixing small details that needed attention before moving forward. When you are mudding and taping, there is no rushing it. Once you texture, that is it. The prep work has to be right. It may not have looked like progress on the surface, but it was exactly what needed to happen. Next weekend, we should be texturing most of the house, which feels like a big milestone. Trading Travel for Focused Work On Sunday, I packed up and headed out of town to spend the week with family. The extra help with Jett allows me to get more focused work done, and that balance has been a lifesaver in this season. From there, we will head straight into our annual business trip to Fredericksburg. This trip has become a tradition, and it is one of my favorite ways to reset. We use that time to reflect, set goals for 2026, and get clear on what we want the year to look like before the pace really ramps up. A Quiet Milestone Worth Celebrating Last week was also monumental in a way that still feels surreal. We officially crossed into six figure territory, not just barely, but well beyond what we expected. I have never been someone who obsesses over my bank account. I do not sit and check numbers daily. I focus on serving clients, building trust, and showing up consistently. Clients come, clients stay, and referrals continue to happen. The money follows the work. Seeing that growth is humbling. It is a reminder that consistency, integrity, and community matter far more than chasing numbers. We celebrated quietly, grateful for where we are and excited for where we are headed. Baby Updates and Simple Joys In family news, Jett is officially an avocado fan. It is the only food he has tried so far, and he is obsessed. I am starting to experiment with making more homemade purées, so if you have any favorite recipes, please send them my way. Watching him experience new things while still building a business has been one of the most grounding parts of this season. Looking Ahead This week is about keeping momentum without losing balance. Focused work, team leadership, family time, and preparing for our annual planning retreat all wrapped into one. I am walking into this next chapter incredibly grateful. For growth. For support. For clarity. And for the ability to build a business that aligns with the life I want to live. Here is to a strong start, thoughtful planning, and an exciting year ahead.

Two Weeks of Slowing Down The last two weeks of the year were exactly what I did not know I needed. While I did not completely take two weeks off work, I intentionally stepped back from the smaller things. No weekly blog. No newsletter. Fewer day to day tasks that normally keep my brain spinning. Instead, I dedicated that time to Jett and my husband, and it was amazing. Business naturally slowed down with the holidays, which helped create a rhythm of slower days and quieter weeks. That peace showed up in ways I did not expect. Even my milk supply kicked into high gear, which honestly felt like the biggest sign that my body finally relaxed. It all really started on our trip to Naples. I barely opened my laptop, and for the first time in a long time, I truly rested. Since then, my stress levels have stayed low, and I want to protect that feeling moving forward. Back to Business Without Losing the Calm This week marks the return of everything. Weekly meetings, monthly meetings, networking, client work, and all the moving pieces that come with running a growing business. My biggest goal right now is simple but not easy. Maintain the same peace I felt over the holidays, even as things pick back up. One major reason that feels possible is that we finally made a new hire. Her name is Lark, and she has been absolutely amazing. She has already taken a significant load off my plate, and I can feel the difference. That support alone has brought clarity, focus, and a sense of relief that I have been missing. This is your reminder that hiring is not just about capacity. It is about protecting your energy, your health, and your ability to show up fully for both your business and your life. House Progress and the Countdown We are gearing up for another weekend at the house, and it still feels wild to say this, but my dad and I only have nine weekends left out there. Nine. My husband is already out there as much as possible during the week, which means this spring will be full of long days and very few breaks for either of us. It is exhausting to think about, but it is also exciting. We are in the final stretch, and every weekend now actually moves the needle in a noticeable way. Mixing Work, Travel, and Learning We are also gearing up for our Disney and Universal trip at the end of the month. Ten full days with my husband, Jett, and my mom. It will be fun, but it will also be work. I am intentionally researching family amenities, baby care centers, transportation options, car seat logistics, hotels, and ride accessibility. This trip allows me to gather real time, updated information so I can better serve my travel clients. Hands on experience matters, especially when families are trusting you with big trips and even bigger memories. Baby Updates That Make My Heart Explode In personal news, Jett tried his first food this week. Homemade avocado purée mixed with mom’s milk, and he absolutely loved it. Watching him experience something new was one of those moments that stops you in your tracks. He also had his four and a half month appointment, and our doctor confirmed what we already suspected. He is advanced for his age. His head control is phenomenal. He pushes up strong on his arms during tummy time. He has a full belly laugh and makes nonstop noises. The doctor thinks he will be crawling and sitting up much sooner than expected. I am not sure if that is good news or terrifying news, but either way, it is amazing to hear that he is thriving. Looking Ahead As this new year begins, my focus is not on doing more. It is on doing better. Better boundaries. Better systems. Better support. Better presence at home and at work. If you take anything from this week’s reflection, let it be this. Protect your inner peace. Start the year grounded, not rushed. Growth does not have to come at the expense of calm. Here is to a fresh start, steady momentum, and a year built with intention.

Baby News That Melted My Heart This week officially pushed me over the edge in the best way possible. Jett had his Santa pictures done by Specialties Photography , and I genuinely do not know how parents ever choose just one photo. He is so stinking cute that I am fully convinced we are going to buy every single image. If anyone has tips on how not to purchase the entire gallery, please send them my way. Until then, I will be over here zooming in on every little smile and wondering how he keeps getting cuter by the day. Mom life is wild, and moments like these remind me how fast time is already moving. I swear he was just born, and now we are talking about Christmas photos. House Progress and Aches I Never Want Again In house news, we are officially floating, taping, and we textured our first room. Seeing texture on the walls made everything feel real in a new way. We are still on track for a May 2026 move in date, which feels both far away and right around the corner. That said, when we got back on Saturday, I was in so much pain from sanding and aching that I could barely move. Neck, arms, hands, everything. I am really looking forward to the day we move in because I do not ever want to feel that level of soreness again. Building your own house is rewarding, but it is not for the weak. Every milestone comes with sweat, dust, and a very strong reminder of why contractors charge what they do. Business Is Growing Fast and That Comes With Pressure Business wise, things are growing at an insane rate. It is exciting, validating, and also incredibly hard to keep up with. The volume of work, clients, and projects has reached a point where it is no longer sustainable without additional help. I finally broke down this week and responded to all the applicants who have applied. Interviews are getting scheduled, and I am genuinely eager to bring someone onto the team. We want to hire quickly, train them well, and get them helping immediately. This season has made it crystal clear that growth without capacity is painful. Right now, I am working at three in the morning just to keep up with clients, and while I am proud of what we are building, this is not the long term plan. Business Advice of the Week Do not hesitate to make the hire. Waiting until you are drowning puts you in scramble mode, not leadership mode. Yes, hiring can feel risky in the beginning, but proactive hiring gives you breathing room, margin, and the ability to scale with intention instead of panic. Learn from me. Build the bench before you need it. A Busy Week and a Needed Change of Scenery This upcoming week is packed. Meetings, interviews, client work, and onboarding all stacked together. But we are also heading out of town to Naples for a business trip for my husband. We are planning to mix work with a little personal time, maybe see some Christmas lights, and finally do a few festive things to get into the holiday spirit. We have both been running nonstop, and this feels like a much needed reset even if laptops are coming with us. ✨ Looking Ahead Between baby milestones, house progress, business growth, and hiring decisions, life feels full in every sense of the word. Busy, yes. Hard, absolutely. But also deeply rewarding. The focus for the next few weeks is clear. Hire intentionally. Protect my energy. Keep clients supported. And make space to actually enjoy this season. If you are a business owner feeling stretched thin, let this be your reminder that growth is supposed to feel exciting, not exhausting. The right systems and the right people make all the difference.